Raptor, the sound of the word evokes
An image so majestic, so precise, so dangerous
Like the blade of a knife falling through the air
Slicing the water
To grasp a silver fish in terrible talons
To feed then fly
To relieve his mate who sits through rain and heat
Protecting their precious brown and white speckled eggs
There she sits searching the sky for his return
Then suddenly ,he alights upon the nest
Her lifelong love
They pause a while and cry to each other
Then she is released to fly and fish for her supper
He re-arranges a twig here and there
Turns the eggs
Then settles in their lofty nest
And begins his watch for her return